Lapu-Lapu collects P140T in 2 days

CEBU, Philippines — The city of Lapu-Lapu has collected P140,000 in the first two days of implementation of the mandatory environmental fee for visiting watersports enthusiasts.

According to the Lapu-Lapu City information office, the collection of environmental fees, which started last May 1, is collected from all incoming visitors who wish to enjoy the natural wonders and engage in the city's watersports.

The watersports and natural wonders include island-hopping, diving, snorkeling, parasailing, and other water sports and recreational activities.

Those that are not into the specified activities in the city ordinance are excluded from paying the P100 fee.

According to Lapu-lapu’s PIO announcement, tourists who wish to visit Cordova's tourist spots may do so, but must not use the municipality as the backdoor to getting into the city.

Pump boats attempting to enter will be intercepted, and an environmental fee will be levied upon them accordingly.

City Councilor Annabeth Cuizon said the city has deployed Water and Sanitation Rescuers (WASAR) and Bantay Dagat personnel in Lapu-Lapu City's coastal waters and islands to enforce the newly enacted ordinance.

Violators of the ordinance will face penalties, including a written notice for the first offense, a fine of P3,500 for the second offense, and a fine of P5,000 for subsequent offenses, along with the revocation of their business permits.

Along with this development, the Lapu-Lapu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) is now regularly collecting trash in the city's local ports and putting up buoys to anchor pump boats on coastlines.

Pump boats are also required to have trash bins in their seacraft, and guests are barred from throwing their waste in the sea.

CENRO head Emeterio Bonghanoy said they are now putting up buoys or huge floaters along the coastline, starting in Barangay Marigondon, to anchor pump boats and restrict their movement while on dock to prevent these boats from damaging corals.

CENRO trucks are now also collecting trash daily, both in the morning and afternoon in the ports of

Ports in Punta Engaño, Maribago, Marigondon, and Angasil to assure that all the trash from the island-hopping activities will be collected. — (FREEMAN)